MERZBOW – MUSIC FOR BONDAGE PERFORMANCE 2 (CD by Extreme)
One of the aspects of Merzbow’s work is pornography, or to be more
precise bondage performance. Masami Akita wrote an extended book about
the history of SM in Japan and is active in producing performances,
video’s and music for bondage performances. This is the second release
of these bondage soundtracks. Strange it may seems, but the music is
not over the top noise, no SM for the ears. A lot of the tracks are
built around repeating pulses, with noise swirling in and out of
the mix. Sometimes they sound like machines (maybe like electric
razors). But be careful: this is not the minimal techno stuff a la
Panasonic as there is no setady beat, or indeed anything similar to
house music. This is indeed the most strangest of the recent Merzbow
releases, and it makes me curious to see the CD-Rom (of which some of
these tracks have been taken…) (FdW) Address: <extreme@well.com>
MERZBOW – AGE OF 369/CHANT 2 (double CD by Extreme)
Early works by Merzbow, released a decade ago on cassette only.
If this is the new trend (releasing Merzbow’s cassettes on CD),
then get a second job to pay for this. In the period covered by this
release Merzbow played around with tape-loops of found sound which were
mixed along with shortwave sound and effect pedals. Still this sound is
as violent as then and the power is still there. As a bonus you will
get a track from a Korm Plastics cassette compilation released in 1985.
Negative point: the text is barely readable which is a pity since it
sheds light on Merzbow’s early days. Address: <extreme@well.com>
MERZBOW – AKASHA GULVA (CD by Alien 8)
Merzbow recorded live in Tokyo in june of this year, with the line-up
being Masami Akita, Reiko A (these two are the usual line up of Merzbow
live) and one Bara, who gets ‘action, mud, installation’ behind his/her
name. Maybe this is in relation to theme of the evening: Trial Domain
96- Action For Paradigm’. Whatever that maybe. This is actually a good
live recording, better then some of the other ones released. One long
track of 73 minutes, the full sonic blast with no escape possibility.
The fine tuning apperant that is evidently apperent on his studio CD’s
lack here, but instead it is much rawer and without end. (FdW)
Address: <alien8@total.net>
MERZBOW – SPIRAL HONEY (CD by Work In Progress)
New studio work from earlier this year. Here Merzbow works with
triggers, loops or pulses, well off and on. The music is again blowing
ones mind away, yet there is a refinement in there, like in the opening
of ‘Talipes’. Pulses with slowly envelopping feedback that never seems
to unfold, but once it does it is just an amazing piece. The track that
follows this (with no title) is built around a pulsating rhythm that
every once in a while occurs, but is blown away immediately. This is
Merzbow in progress – towards dance music in noise, ultimately
replacing of course Gabber one day. (FdW) Address: Work In Progress –
BCM WIP – London WC1N 3XX – UK
MERZBOW & SMEGMA – PLAYS (CD by Tim Kerr)
With this release Merzbow returns to good old collaboration through
mail. The two bands exchanged sound material, on which they worked.
The two tracks have part-indexes, which, if you have a more expensive
CD player, allow to shuffle the tracks. Unlike many recent Merzbow
releases, this is more a plain collage work. The sound seems to change
rapidely along the lines of all sorts of electronic used here.
A snippet of sound here and there, plus an extended use of the stereo
spectrum. Smegma do much of the same thing, yet they use a lot of
tape-loops and the scratching and hand-spinning of records. Quite
an interesting project this one which comes as a surprise for both
bands. (FdW) Address: P.O. Box 42423 – Portland, OR 97242 – USA
MERZBOW/BASTARD NOISE (CD by Relapse)
How do get your name around part – I don’t remember. I must admit
this: I wasn’t too familiar with Bastard Noise, but if you like
Merzbow then one should want this too. Merzbow’s offer (hey he’s
first on the CD!) are five noisy slabs of musicwhich focuss on
the use of electronics. Bastard Noise are more simple in their
approach of the idea noise and maybe use more instruments. ‘B.N.W.’
sound like a rock band with screams, bass and feedback. In other
tracks they use synths too and owe maybe to a band like Ramleh.
This is a nice introduction to what they do. (FdW)
Address: <relapse@relapse.com>
MERZBOW/SLUGBAIT (CD by Dirter Promotions)
Price winner concerning package: a tin can which rapidely become
fashionable. This is another collaboration CD. Slugbait is a UK noise
band with members from Splintered, Bain Of Pain and a whole lot of
others. Slugbait is their true noise outfit, ion which every sound is
tortured beyond recognition. Merzbow just treats that in even more
noise. There are a lot of synth and radio sounds to spot in there,
chopped into pieces (though not as collage wise as the CD with
Smegma). Slugbait treat the raw material by Merzbow in a likewise
manner, but it seems that they throw in some deep dark drones in
there as a sort of counterpoint. Other then Merzbow, who seems to
compose by improvising, Slugbait tries to compose with the material.
A fine work of two bands that have related noise interests. (FdW)
Address: Dirter – P.O.Box 61 – Herne Bay – Kent CT6 8GA – UK
MERZBOW – MERCURATED (CD by Alchemy)
Four tracks make up this CD, of which one is recorded live,
the others are studio tracks. Again the full blow, but less refined
then ‘Spiral Honey’. The ordinary yet good Merzbow for the die-hards.
Even I am speechless sometimes. (FdW)